Agenda item was added after deadline

At Bowers Park, the the proposed upgrades would pay for a new $2.2 million softball complex and a $4.5 million multipurpose indoor complex. The money would also be used to rebuild the baseball complex, repair and replace lighting at existing ball fields and replace the PARA maintenance building.

Dusty Compton | Tuscaloosa News

By Lydia Seabol AvantStaff Writer

Published: Thursday, May 2, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at 11:20 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | Commission Chairman Hardy McCollum blocked a possible vote by the Tuscaloosa County Commission Wednesday on nearly $18.8 million in improvements at county parks.

The improvements are part of a multi-year facility upgrade plan with the goal of attracting sports tournaments. The plan has been discussed by the commission at least four times in the past six months.

McCollum said that Commissioner Reginald Murray added the discussion item to the commission's agenda on Tuesday, missing the panel's 3 p.m. Monday deadline.

However, the item was listed on the agenda sent to news outlets and the agenda printed for the public during Wednesday's meeting.

“This was not on the agenda on Monday, and we need to have a full meeting with the city of Tuscaloosa,” McCollum said.

McCollum's primary concern is that the city wouldn't pay a high enough percentage of the cost of the improvements. According to Murray's proposal, the $18.8 million cost would be split, with the city of Tuscaloosa paying 65 percent and the county paying 35 percent.

“We are investing and should expect a return on our investment,” the commission chairman said.

McCollum said that the city will be the primary beneficiary of the tourism dollars by a 30-to-1 margin and, therefore, the city should pay more.

“We come out on the short end of the stick,” he said.

The list of projects that Murray planned to propose were taken largely from a list of projects proposed by Commissioner Stan Acker in March, projects originally presented to the commission last year by the Tuscaloosa County Park and Recreation Authority.

The improvements include $4.2 million for Sokol Park. The money would be used to build one championship-caliber soccer field, repurpose a multi-

purpose field complex to make six football/soccer fields and build five new soccer fields at Sokol North. The money would also be used to construct a

multipurpose building at Sokol North, build scorekeeper shelters at the Sokol South softball fields and add a parking lot at Sokol North.

At Bowers Park, the money would pay for a new $2.2 million softball complex and a $4.5 million multipurpose indoor complex. The money would also be used to rebuild the baseball complex, repair and replace lighting at existing ball fields and replace the PARA maintenance building.

At the Bobby Miller Activity Center, a new multipurpose gym would be constructed for $1.1 million, and lighting would be added at the soccer fields.

During the Wednesday meeting, Acker proposed that the commission suspend the rules so that they could vote on Murray's proposal. But the commission had to have a unanimous vote to suspend the rules. Commissioner Bobby Miller was the lone dissenting vote. He said he did not want to add the item to the agenda because he did not support the addition of a $4.5 million multipurpose indoor complex that could house six basketball courts for tournaments. The basketball complex, which was included on Murray's list, was not on Acker's previous list that was proposed in March.

“It was like being blindsided today,” Miller said. “They say they want to put six basketball courts at Bowers Park to accommodate traveling basketball teams, but no one has done a study on it or shown me that it's needed. But $4.5 million doesn't drop out of a bird's wing.”

Murray said that the $4.5 million multi-use complex at Bowers Park was part of an original proposal brought before the county by PARA last year. He said that right now, the Tuscaloosa Warriors Basketball Association, which hosts an annual spring break tournament, has to split up its tournament among several high school and PARA facilities.

“They have to be transported from one facility to the next, and that's where that particular need comes from,” Murray said. “It's a logistical problem.”

Acker and Commissioner Jerry Tingle said they expect the issue to be discussed at the next commission meeting on May 15.

“We will probably get together with the city. We just want to make sure that it's fair with the county and the city, as it's being driven by the city,” Tingle said.

Although the Tuscaloosa City Council and the Tuscaloosa County Commission have not met as a whole to discuss the plan or the funding split, individual council members and commissioners have been working on the list of projects for several weeks, said Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox.

It's a discussion that will likely continue in the near future, Maddox said.

“I would imagine the council will discuss the joint city and county projects in the next few weeks so that formal discussions can commence,” Maddox said.

That's everyone's ultimate goal, Acker said, for the county and the city to work together.

<p>TUSCALOOSA | Commission Chairman Hardy McCollum blocked a possible vote by the Tuscaloosa County Commission Wednesday on nearly $18.8 million in improvements at county parks.</p><p>The improvements are part of a multi-year facility upgrade plan with the goal of attracting sports tournaments. The plan has been discussed by the commission at least four times in the past six months. </p><p>McCollum said that Commissioner Reginald Murray added the discussion item to the commission's agenda on Tuesday, missing the panel's 3 p.m. Monday deadline. </p><p>However, the item was listed on the agenda sent to news outlets and the agenda printed for the public during Wednesday's meeting.</p><p>“This was not on the agenda on Monday, and we need to have a full meeting with the city of Tuscaloosa,” McCollum said. </p><p>McCollum's primary concern is that the city wouldn't pay a high enough percentage of the cost of the improvements. According to Murray's proposal, the $18.8 million cost would be split, with the city of Tuscaloosa paying 65 percent and the county paying 35 percent.</p><p> “We are investing and should expect a return on our investment,” the commission chairman said.</p><p>McCollum said that the city will be the primary beneficiary of the tourism dollars by a 30-to-1 margin and, therefore, the city should pay more.</p><p>“We come out on the short end of the stick,” he said. </p><p>The list of projects that Murray planned to propose were taken largely from a list of projects proposed by Commissioner Stan Acker in March, projects originally presented to the commission last year by the Tuscaloosa County Park and Recreation Authority. </p><p>The improvements include $4.2 million for Sokol Park. The money would be used to build one championship-caliber soccer field, repurpose a multi-</p><p>purpose field complex to make six football/soccer fields and build five new soccer fields at Sokol North. The money would also be used to construct a </p><p>multipurpose building at Sokol North, build scorekeeper shelters at the Sokol South softball fields and add a parking lot at Sokol North. </p><p>At Bowers Park, the money would pay for a new $2.2 million softball complex and a $4.5 million multipurpose indoor complex. The money would also be used to rebuild the baseball complex, repair and replace lighting at existing ball fields and replace the PARA maintenance building. </p><p>At the Bobby Miller Activity Center, a new multipurpose gym would be constructed for $1.1 million, and lighting would be added at the soccer fields. </p><p>During the Wednesday meeting, Acker proposed that the commission suspend the rules so that they could vote on Murray's proposal. But the commission had to have a unanimous vote to suspend the rules. Commissioner Bobby Miller was the lone dissenting vote. He said he did not want to add the item to the agenda because he did not support the addition of a $4.5 million multipurpose indoor complex that could house six basketball courts for tournaments. The basketball complex, which was included on Murray's list, was not on Acker's previous list that was proposed in March.</p><p>“It was like being blindsided today,” Miller said. “They say they want to put six basketball courts at Bowers Park to accommodate traveling basketball teams, but no one has done a study on it or shown me that it's needed. But $4.5 million doesn't drop out of a bird's wing.”</p><p>Murray said that the $4.5 million multi-use complex at Bowers Park was part of an original proposal brought before the county by PARA last year. He said that right now, the Tuscaloosa Warriors Basketball Association, which hosts an annual spring break tournament, has to split up its tournament among several high school and PARA facilities. </p><p>“They have to be transported from one facility to the next, and that's where that particular need comes from,” Murray said. “It's a logistical problem.”</p><p>Acker and Commissioner Jerry Tingle said they expect the issue to be discussed at the next commission meeting on May 15. </p><p>“We will probably get together with the city. We just want to make sure that it's fair with the county and the city, as it's being driven by the city,” Tingle said. </p><p>Although the Tuscaloosa City Council and the Tuscaloosa County Commission have not met as a whole to discuss the plan or the funding split, individual council members and commissioners have been working on the list of projects for several weeks, said Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox. </p><p>It's a discussion that will likely continue in the near future, Maddox said. </p><p>“I would imagine the council will discuss the joint city and county projects in the next few weeks so that formal discussions can commence,” Maddox said.</p><p>That's everyone's ultimate goal, Acker said, for the county and the city to work together.</p><p>“We all strive to that and I'm hopeful we'll get there,” Acker said.</p><p>Reach Lydia Seabol Avant at 205-722-0222 or lydia.seabolavant@tuscaloosanews.com.</p>